Izuchukwu OkosiArsenal on-loan goalkeeper, Arthur Okonkwo, produced a match-winning performance on New Year’s day against Tranmere Rovers, and may have handed himself an early shot at winning the Player of the Month award at League Two side, Crewe Alexandria.
The young English keeper of Nigerian descent kept a clean sheet as his on-loan side won 1-0.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelCrewe’s goalkeeping coach Fred Barber was elated with Okonkwo’s form this season for the Railway Men.
“The world is his oyster, he can be whatever he wants to be,” said Barber as quoted by Tribal Football.
“He is a good learner, a good listener, and he’s come on a lot.
“He’s got great physical attributes and he is talented, and he is prepared to work very hard to get better.”
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Highlights of Okonkwo’s performance include making a brilliant save to push Kieron Morris’ shot from almost 25 yards out around for a corner.
Arsenal’s first choice goalkeeper is England international Aaron Ramsdale.
Ramsdale is deputised by USA international, Matt Turner. Both keepers were in their country’s 2022 FIFA World Cup squads on Qatar albeit only Turner played for his nation.
However, the battle for who becomes the third choice keeper at the Emirates stadium would likely be between the Anglo-Nigerian, Okonkwo and Karl Hein with pre-season form likely to play a part in Mikel Arteta and Edu’s transfer plans.
Arsenal will face Newcastle United Tuesday night in their first Premier League game of the year, 2023.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
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